User Comments - pretzellogic

Posted on: MSN and QQ

Ok, so here's more on QQ. (I've had reason to be curious recently)

http://www.symantec.com/security_response/attacksignatures/detail.jsp?asid=22691

I guess the not-quite-clear bottom line is that:

1) QQ instant messenger has bad security practices

2) Its own operations leaves your computer in a situation where its own operation allows vulnerabilities to be created and exploited by others.

Posted on: Negotiating a Deadline

Chris, how long does it take to do your entire "done" routine?

Posted on: Negotiating a Deadline

Can you clarify what you mean by "done"? Understand and repeat the dialogue? Do you also work on studying the characters? I came to the same conclusion you did regarding studying intermediate again. The hard part is trying to figure out what method of study gives the most return the fastest: studying hard upper intermediate lessons in more detail slowly, or studying quickly lots of smaller, easier newbie, ele, or intermediate lessons. Too bad there's no data on this.

Posted on: Homeschooling

Mark, I guess i'm unclear on what you are asking for. Realistic scenarios involving Chinese people, or dialogue us foreigners can use, or both or something else entirely? I remember that someone requested a Homeschooling lesson about a year ago, and here it is. If they are still subscribing, they might be happy with the lesson.

I want scenarios where I learn how to express myself with Chinese language that affected my life. A great example is snowstorms. When I lived in the Northeast and Midwest US, we'd get 1 or 2 feet in a snowstorm maybe, and a couple of feet in a heavy season. A squadron of snowplows would come out to plow roads. Sometimes the snowstorm would turn into an icestorm, and there would be snapped trees and powerlines. It sounds like in Shanghai, these scenarios/concepts are unheard of/unexperienced by key Cpod staff, and that's likely partly why there are no snowstorm lessons on Cpod despite multiple requests for them. :-)

Posted on: Homeschooling

"supposedly two Chinese people discussing something that doesn't exist in China."

Well, not quite. Homeschooling is not allowed for Chinese nationals, but homeschooling in China does seem to exist. Definitely appears that Homeschooling is something that expats are taking advantage of.

http://www.echinacities.com/beijing/city-life/homeschooling-in-beijing-the-freedom-to-choose.html

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/China/default.asp

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/regional/China.htm

Posted on: Fast Cars and Shallow Women

FWIW, I agreed with your original post. The puppy was a quirky touch though. Different.

Posted on: Braised Pork in Soy Sauce

Oh. I am funny in 2 languages. You've been a great audience. Thanks everybody, I'm here all week :-)

At the risk of milking the joke to death (for my next gig at the Improv), several means more than 2 in English. How many more lessons this year, 1, 2,? 21? 100?

Posted on: Fast Cars and Shallow Women

I suggested a lesson on locksmiths, childhood disabilities.... we'll see if those suggestions get made into a lesson.

Posted on: Braised Pork in Soy Sauce

Vera, can you give more insight into what you mean by "yes"? Yes, cpod is thinking about more video, but has no lessons in the pipeline. Yes, cpod is thinking about creating 2 more videos this year, but has nothing in the pipeline. Yes, cpod has one lesson in the pipeline for release soon, and that will be the final lesson. Yes cpod has one lesson in the pipeline, and anticipates having 6 more lessons for all of next year. Yes, cpod has 2 lessons in the pipeline, but is rethinking lesson architecture overall, so the forecast for video lessons is unclear. Cpod won't make a formal announcement about video lessons if cpod decides to discontinue video lessons.

Posted on: A Detained Package

从来没有时间做事对了，但总是有时间又做事。there's never time to do it right, but there's always time to do it over. (I hope I said that right in Chinese...)